Diaries of a changed soldier, June 12, 2015:
I feel so different now. It's one thing to have Vahlen explain the theory, it's another thing entirely to have a squad of enemies run right by you because you have chameleon skin. I'm so much sturdier than I was before - I accidentally crushed an X-COM issue durable mug, bending the metal in on itself and spilling my tea everywhere. I'd only meant to have a firm grip on the mug. The burn from the tea healed more quickly than usual, almost instantly becoming new, perfect skin. I also notice so much more than before - I see everything now. I can see even the smallest of movements and know that I have a comfortable amount of time to react appropriately. Sometimes, it's unnerving.
The missions went swimmingly. As always there were mistakes, but they never manifested into anything particularly dangerous. Everyone was on point, and we successfully extracted Cat and eliminated the EXALT presence. My new skin helped tremendously, keeping my invisible to the enemy - and in retrospect likely my allies, as well. Ironically, I was the only one to get hit, taking some damage to my armor but nothing more than minor scrapes to my own body.
With things as they are now and plans in place for proper alien containment and interrogation, I imagine missions will become more dangerous as we attempt to take down more aliens in a non-lethal fashion. I admit though, I've been wondering something in my time after the mission:
What does it mean to be human? My birthday passed recently; it was June fifth. I didn't celebrate: I was in a test tube at the time. Born again, you might say. But as what? It's been haunting me: can I really be called human anymore? My mind seems the same. My body, on the outside at least, looks entirely human. Vahlen assured me that all of me functions just as it had before, just with changes. But on a biological level, fundamentally what makes us human is a string of genetic code. Given even the most minor changes and you get entirely different things: from monkeys to bananas, humans are almost entirely genetically the same as everything else. And my genetic makeup has been changed, shifted, manipulated. I feel human. But can I truly be called that anymore? If I'm so very different, even as I remain much the same, what makes me human? And if I'm not, what separates me from a Floater? From a Thin Man? What makes me less alien than them? And when all of this is over, I admit I worry about what is going to happen to me. Vahlen is near fanatical in her examinations of Leilith and I. She wants scans, samples, and tests. Is that all we are?
I asked for this. I wanted this. I needed it to become stronger, more than I was before, but it's been haunting me, repeating itself even as I drink mug after mug of tea.
Am I an abomination now?
11 June, 2015
I did not comment on our previous mission, for I was somewhat embarrassed and slightly terrified that immediately after I complained about the laxity of work, the aliens ramped up their attacks. First, one of those infernal saucers nearly killed Cerberus Johnson outright. And to top it off, they employed a Brandi Bear of their own, equipped with a nasty cannon in each "hand". Needless to say, my work is no longer slow.
It is a relief to know that, tough as the aliens are, we can count on their human stooges for comic relief. When Atheist Cat contacted us requesting immediate extraction, even as Evelynn was not quite finished with her enhancements, Dr. Shen was of the opinion that we must mount an immediate rescue, Evelynn or no. I argued that even when Evelynn emerged from the tube, there was no guarantee that she would immediately be combat-ready. However, Dr. Vahlen wanted to test her toys, and the Commander felt he owed Evelynn the chance to join the team once again. Bradford, of course, was against whatever course the commander decided on. But, it is now apparent the commander made the right call.
Evelynn tore through the Turncoats like a banshee, slipping into sight only to rain death. But whether her new eyes made any difference I cannot say, as I am told she never missed a shot. Alice Samsara was an adequate replacement for Cerberus, as she exhibited pinpoint accuracy with both pistol and rifle. Draig, Revocane, and even Magoo joined in to leave no man standing. The recordings are almost painful to watch, but I remind myself the buggers dug their own graves when they sided with Seekers.
Cerberus and Leilith continue to make measure improvements, and after that Medbay could do with another long lull. If we can manage it.
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Topic: Let's get paranoid, in XCOM: Enemy Within! (Read 5132 times)